Coin-control mechanism for dispensing machines



Oct. 15, 1929. J. J. SCHERMACK 1,731,352

COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHINES Filed May 14,' 1928 eSheets-Sheet 1 F"; 7/- J7 E N w L 2/ 2; r

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COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHINES Filed May 14, 1928 6Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 15,1929. J. J. SCHERMACK 7 1,731,352

COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHINES Filed May 14, 1928 sSheets-Sheet 4 FM? M awuemtoa al ke-canto Oct; 15, 1929. J. J. SCHERMACKCOIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHINES Fiied May 14, 1928 sSheets-Shed. 5

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COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHINES I Filed May 14, 1928 6Sheets-Sheet 6 anoentoz Jsqai JSr/Ter 72140? Patented oer. 15, 1929UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH J'. SCHERMACK, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC MER- CHANDISING CORPORATION AMERICA, OF NEW YORK,N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE COIN -CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENSINGMACHINES Application filed May 14 This invention relates generally todispensing apparatus, and has particular reference to coin' controlleddispensing apparatus.

It is one of the primary objects of .the

5 present invention to provide a multiple coin controlled dispensingmachine wherein the coins operate to disengage the latching mechanismand permit actuation of the dispensing mechanism.

A further advantageous feature of the present invention is to provide anarrange ment of the foregoing character having means for rejecting coinsof incorrect denomi nation, and .returning the same to the operator, ,1

\Vith the above, as well as other objectsin .view, the invention residesin the combinations, construction and arrangement of parts which areparticularly pointed out in the as this desci'iption proceeds,especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a-sectional elevational view of adispensing apparatus constructed in accord ance with my invention; I

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the operating mechanism;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional ,view on an enlarged scaletaken substantially centrally of Fig. 2. v

Figure 4 is a front elevational View of the construction illustrated inFigure 2, showing one part of the casing swung to open position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation of the control mechanism as seen fromthe rear Figurev 6 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of thecasing illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the conveyor actuatingmechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a top plan View of the mechanism shown in Figure 1 showingthe upper portion of the casing in section;

Figure 9 is a viewsimilar to Figure 6 showing a slightly modified formof construction.

claims and which will be made more apparent v 1928. Serial No. 277,774;a

In general, the device comprises a casing 10 and a frame 11 forsupporting the panels 12 of the casing. Extending inward from the upperand lower front portions of the frame 11 are brackets 13 and 14 carryingthe shafts 15 and 16 respectively, which in turn carry two pairs ofspaced sprocket wheels 17 and 18 respectively. The sprocket wheels 17are keyed to the shaft 15 in direct vertical alignment with the sprocketwheels 18, and are connected thereto by means of gle flexible linearmembers or chains 19 and Extending transversely of the linear membersand bridging the space therebetween are a plurality of containers 21having openings 23 in the front side thereof adapted to register with acorresponding opening 24 in the front'wall of the casing 10. Keyed tothe shaft 15 to the out side of the right hand sprocket wheel 17 is athird sprocket wheel 25 connected, by means of the chain 26, to a,

sprocket Wheel 27 keyed to the shaft 28, the latter being journaled in abracket 29 secured to (ghe frame 11 intermediate the brackets 13 an 14.I

For actuating the shaft 28 to rotate the concorresponding gear 32 keyedto the shaft 28.

Positionedupon the opposite end of the shaft 30 is a suitable clutchmember 33. Secured to the shaft 28, adjacent the sprocket wheel 27, is acam member 34 having diametrically opposed slots 35 therein forreceiving one end of the spring-influenced dog 36 pivoted to the bracket29 as at 37; With this arrangement it will be apparent that the conveyorwill be normally locked or prevented from moving relative to the shaft28. Aswill be understood, the slots 35 are so positioned within the cammember that when the dog 36 is in engagement with one of the slots, oneof the containers will be opposite the opening 24 in the casing.

Referring now more specifically to the coin controlled dispensingmechanism for afl'ordthe conveyor, it will be noted that I have provideda cast metal casing 38 comprising complementary sections 39 and 40hingedly con nected together and to the rear side of a door 41 whichforms a movable section of the front wall of the casing 10, and ishingedly connected to the frame member 11. The door 41 is provided,adjacent the top edge thereof,

with a suitable coin receiving opening 42, adapted to register with acorresponding opening 43 formed in the upper portion 44 of the section39. As will be apparent from Figure 4 of the drawing, the upper pdrtion45 of the section 40 cooperates with the portion J cooperate with thesection 39 of the casing I to divide the body portion 47 into twopassages 51 and 52, which as shown communicate with the passageway 46.The passage 51 preferably extends longitudinally of the casing 38 andcommunicates with a receptacle 53 formed in the door 41 adjacent thelower edge thereof, while the passage 52 preferably establishescommunication between the passage 46 and the control mechanism indicatedgenerally by the reference character 54. The lower end portion of thepassage 52 designated at 55, is divided into a series of passages,herein shown for the purpose of illustration only, as three, 56,57 and58. These passages are of sufficient width to receive the coins and areforrned by the spaced baffles 59 and 60, the latter being yieldablysupported. The passage 56 is preferably in direct communication oralignment with the passage 52,- while the passages 57 and 58 communicatewith the latter through the angular passage 61.

The section 40 of the casing is preferably cut awayqas indicated at 62for. receiving the dispensing mechanism 54. This mechanism comprises ashaft 64 ournaled in a bracket 65 formed upon the rear side of thesection 40 of the casing. Keyed to the shaft 64 is a memmer 66 having aportion 67 constituting a gear-68, and having another portion 69 ofsubstantially larger diameter than the 'portion 67 and provided with aseries of teeth 70 for engaging the ratchet lever 71 pivotally mountedupon the casing as at 72. The ratchet levgr is preferably yieldably heldin engagement with the teeth 70 by means of the spring'73, having oneend connected to the casing and the other end connected to an extension74 of the lever. As shown, the teeth are provided with inclined camsurfaces 75 and abrupt shoulder portions 76 adapted to engage alaterally projecting finger 77 formed. on the lever. 71 to preventmovementof the member 76 in a counter-clockwisedirection as viewed inFig. 5. The ratchet portion 69 of the member 66 is further provided witha pair of diametrically opposed recesses or slots 78 and 79 forreceiving a laterally projecting portion 80 formed upon the lower end ofa dog 81 which, as shown, is pivoted to the rear side of the section 40as indicated at 82, the width of the recesses 78 and 79 beingsubstantiallygr'eater than the width of the laterally projecting portion80 of the dog 81- so as to permit a limited relative movement betweenthe dog and member 66. The dog 81 is'provided, intermediate the pivotalconnection thereof, with the casing, and the extension 80 with alaterally inwardly extending portion 83 adapted to project through theopening 62 formed in the section 40 of the casing adjacent the peripheryof the member 66 for reasons to be more fully hereinafter described.

Projecting upwardly from the pivotal connection ofv the dog 81, andformed integral therewith, is a lateral portion 84 having a cam surface85 adapted to engage behind the guide lever '86 in a manner and forreasons to be fully set forth.

For yieldably urging the dog 81 in engagement with the ratchet wheel,the spring 87 is provided, having one end connected to the dog as at 88and the opposite end connected to a pivotal lever 89, which as shown, isoperated as by'projections 89 to tripa suitable counter illustratedgenerally by the reference character 90, a link 90 connecting thecounter and the lever 89. I

- As shown particularly in Figures 3 and 6, the front face of the member66 is-provided with an annular recess91 forming an annular ring 92 onthe member 66, the inner surface 93'of the ring having circumferentiallyspaced recesses therein adapted to cooperate with the ring 94 to formaplurality of coin receiving pockets designated by the referencecharacters 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100. The pockets on each side of thecenter of the ring correspond in number to the number of passages formedin the casing, and as will be readily apparent from Figure 6 of thedrawing, the pockets are adapted to register with the passages 56, 57and 58. It will be further noted from the above figure that the width ofthe pockets is such as to prevent the coins from passing or fallingtherethrough.

F orcon'trolling the number of coins entering the pockets, and forguiding the coins intotheir respective pockets, the guide levers 86, 101and-102 are provided. The lever 86' ture 105 formed in the section 40 ofthe' casing at the mouth'of the passage 52. The

lever 86 is further provided adjacent the lower end thereof with asecond finger 106 adapted to project through a slot 107 formed.

in the section of the casing at the mouthof the passages 57 and 56respectively. The levers 101 and 102 .are further provided at the lowerends thereof with the forwardly projecting fingers 112 and 113respectively. These fingers 112 and 113 are adapted to project throughsuitable slots formed in the casing atthe lower end of the passages 57and 56 respectively. As will be noted from Figure 2 of the drawing, thelever 101 is provided with a laterally projecting pin 11-1: adapted torest upon the lever'86 so that movement of this lever will effect acorresponding movement of thelever 101.

For effecting a rotation of the member 66 a gear 115 is keyed to a stubshaft 116 journaled within the section 40 of the casing and connected bya clutch 116 to the operating handle 117. the shaft 117 of which is"mounted on the door 41. The gear 115 is adapted to mesh with the gear68 formed on the member 66, and consequently upon rotation of the handle117 the member 66 and corresponding parts thereof will also be rotated.The gear 115 further carries a clutch part 118 adapted to mesh with thecorresponding clutch part 33 secured to the shaft 28 to effect arotation of the conveyor heretofore set forth.

Referring now to the operation of the device as heretofore pointed out.and assuming that the pockets 95, 96 and 97 are in direct communicationwith the passages 56, 57 and 58 respectively, and that a coin of theproper denomination is inserted within the coin receiving opening 43, itwill be noted that this coin will drop through the passages 46, 52 and56 directly into the pocket 95. Upon engagement of the coinwithin thepocket 95 the coin will force the finger 113 outwardly and at the sametime move the finger 109 inwardly through the opening 110 to block orclose the entrance to the passage 56 so that when a second coin isplaced within'the opening 43 the coin will strike the finger 109- and bedeflected into the passage 57 and corresponding pocket 96. The secondcoin, like the first mentioned coin, will engage the finger 112 and movethe same outwardly and at the same time project the finger 108 throughthe aperture 111' so as to close the entrance to the passage 57.

Thus from the foregoing it will be apparent that as a third coin isplaced in the opening 43, the same will pass through the variouspassages heretofore pointed out and be deflected by both fingers 109 and108 into the passage 58 and pocket 98, forcing the finger 106 outwardlyand at the same time projecting the finger 104 through the aperture 105,blocking the entrance to the passage 52. lVith this arrangement, if forany reason a fourth coin is placed in the opening 43, the same will bedeflected by the finger 104 into the passage 51 and be discharged intothe receptacle 53.

\Vith the parts as thus far described each of the pockets 95, 96 and 97contain a coin,

and the extension 80 of the dog 81 is in engagement with the slot 78.and owing to the fact that there is a limited clearance between theextension 80 and the side walls of the said slot, an initial rotativemovement of the member 66 will be permitted. Upon rotating the member 66through the gearing 68 and 115 heretofore set forth, the coin in thesprocket 97 will engage the lateral extension 83 of the dog 81 and swingthe latter outwardly about the pitotal connection 82, thus disengagingthe extension 80 from the slot 78 and permitting a free rotation of themember 66. In this position of the parts the extension 80 rides alongthe cam surfaces 75 of the ratchet teeth and reverse movement of themember 66 is prevented by reason of the ratchet lever tooth 77 andshoulders 76 formed on the teeth 70.

By reference to Figure 5 of the drawing it will be noted that as the dog81 is swung outwardly about the pivotal connection 82 the cam portion 85will engage beneath the lever 86 and hold the same in a position wherethe finger 10-1 is projected through the aperture 105 in the casing, andowing to the connection 111 between the lever 86 and lever 101 thislatter lever will also be held in a corresponding position. 'ith thisarrangement the fingers 106 and 112 will be retracted from theirposition adjacent the respective pockets and entirely out of the path oftravel of the coins.

' From Figure 4 ofv the-drawing it will be noted that as the coin in thepocket 97 assumes aposition past the projection 83 on the dog 81, thecoin in pocket 96 will move opposite the passage 58, and likewise thecoin in the pocket 95 will assume a position opposite the passage 57. Aswill further be noted in Figures 4. 5 and 6 of the drawing the baffle 60is pivotally mounted upon the casing as at 119 and extends into closeproximity to the periphery of the ring 69 so that as the coins are movedpast the bathe 60 the latter is swung upwardly against the action of thespring Revolution of the member 66 is permitted until the pocket 95 ismoved past the projection 83 at which time the latter snaps in bringingthe dog tooth 80 into engagement with the slot 79 (Fig. 5), and theconveyor is moved a sufficient distance to register one of thecontainers 21 with the opening 23 in the casing. When the parts are inthis position the coins in the pockets 95, 96 and 97 assume a positionupon the lower side of the ring-69 and are held in engagement with thepockets by means of a track 121 spaced from the periphery of the ring 69and concentric therewith. Moreover when the parts. are in the foregoingposition the pockets 98, 99 and 100 assume a position in directcommunication with the passages 56, 57 and- 58 respectively.

In order to compensate for and avoid faulty operation due to the backlash in the gears, and the relative movement between the dog 80 andslots 78 and 79 when the parts are in the above position, I provide thedisk 122 secured to the member 66 and having slots 122 and 123 formed inthe periphery thereof. These'slots are provided with an abrupt sur .face124 and an inclined cam surface 125, and

are adapted to receive a roller 126 carried by the arm 127 formed uponthe lever 128 pivoted to the casing asat 129. The roller 126 ispreferably held in engagement with the disk 122 by means of the spring130 connected at one end to the lever 129 and. at the opposite end tothe casing. The position of the slots 122 and 123 within the disk 122 isso determined that when the series of pockets 95, 96 and 97 are inregistration with the passages 56, 57 and 58 respectively, the roller126 will be in accurate engagement with the slot 123, and owing to theabrupt surface 124 of the slot movement of the member 66 in a reversedirection will be prevented and as a consequence an accurateregistration between the pockets 95, 96 and 97 and the passages 56, 57and 58 respectively, will be insured. Onthe other hand, when the rolleris in engagement with the slot 122', the pockets 98, 99 and 100 willlikewise beheld in accurate registration with pockets 56, 57 and 58.When, however, the pocketszadjacent the passages 56, 57 and 58 areoccupied and the member 66 is rotated, the rbller 126 will be forced outof the slot against the action of the spring 130 by virtue of theinclined cam surface 125.

Afurther advantageous feature of the invention resides in the provisionof means for discharging coins of incorrect denomination into thereceptacle 53. The means for accomplishing this result comprises amember 131 secured to the casing as at 132 and provided with an annularportion 133 adapted to fit within the recess 91 formed in the member 66.As shown, particularly in Figure 6 of the drawing, the top surface 134of the annular portion is in direct alignment with the pockets formed inthe ring and is provided at substantially the center thereof with thelaterally projecting inclined surface 135. This latter surfacepreferably communicates with a downwardly inclined track 136 leadinginto the passage 51. The arrangement is such that if a coin of incorrectdenomination is placed within the opening 43 it will. drop through thepassages in substantially the same manner as heretofore pointed out, andowing to the fact that the pockets formed in the ring are calibrated ordesigned to hold a certain type of coin as a nickel for example, whichin the present instance is the largest coin that may be placed withinthe opening 43, the smaller or incorrect coin, such as a cent will passdirectly through the pockets and be deflected by the inclined surface135 .sage 51 at its t p. By reference to Figure 2 of the drawing it willbe noted that the disk 122 is provided at right angles to the slots'122and 123 with j a pair of elongated slots or recesses 137 and 138 adaptedto receivean extension 139 of within the disk122 that when one series ofpockets is in registration with the passages 56, 57 and 58 the extension139 will be in engagement with one of the'recesses 137 and, 138. 'Asshown the latter are provided with inclined walls 140 so that uponmovement of the disk 122 the extension 139 will engage the inclined wall140 of the adjacent recess and swing the lever 86 about the pivotalconnection thereof to the casing'and incidently project the finger 104of the lever 86 through the aperture 105 in the casing to close theentrance and the passage 52. The finger 104 is retained in this positionuntil the other recess assumes a position opposite the extension 139 atwhich time the finger 104 will be withdrawn and a second series ofpockets will the lever 86. The recesses are so positioned assume aposition opposite the passages 56, N

lar stress has been placed upon the fact that the dispensing mechanismactuates only upon inserting a plurality of coins within the device, itwill be noted however, from Figure 9 that the device may be readilyconverted into a single coin controlled system by merely re- I movingthe levers 101 and 102 and placing gates 141 and 142 across the passages56 and 57 respectively. With this arrangement, it will be readilyapparent that as a coin is inserted within the opening 43, the same willbe deflected by the gates 141 and 142 into the passage 58, with theresult that the dispensing mechanism will function in substantially eredas limiting in any respect the essentials and principles of theinvention. F urthermore, it may be possible to 'simplif and rearrangethe more essential features of the invention without departing from thespirit and scope thereof, and to this end reservation is made to makesuch changes as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a multiple' coin controlled dispensing apparatus, the combinationof a rotatable member having a plurality of coin pockets, meansautomatically operative when coins are inserted to distribute them insaid pockets, said'means being maintained in efiective position bycontact a with the coins, preventive means for preventing distributionof coins after a pre-determined number of pockets have been filled, andother means for withdrawing the first-named means from the path of thecoins in the pockets when the dispensing apparatus is actuated. I

2. In a multiple coin controlled dispensing apparatus having 'a coinreceiving passage, the combination of a series of coin receiving pocketscommunicating with said passage, means operable upon inserting aplurality of coins corresponding in number to said pockets fordistributing one coin into each of said pockets, means operableuponeengagement of acoin in the last pocket to close the passageaforesaid, and means for preventing interference of the last recitedmeans with the operation of the dispensing apparatus.

" member having a series of coin receiving pockets therein, meansforlatching said member including a pivotal dog engageable with the member,means for insuring automatic distribution of coins successively to thepockets, and means for automatically disengaging said dog from saidmember to permit rotation of the latter including an extension upon saiddog normally positioned adjacent the'last pocket of the series aforesaidin the path of travel of the coins and adapted be engaged by the coin inthe last pocket to swing the dog out of engagement with the said member.Y

5. In a coin controlled dispensing apparatus, a casing having a coinreceiving passage therein, a rotatable member having a coin receivingpocket therein normally registering with the passage aforesaid, a memberpivot-. allyfmounted upon the casing having a finger adapted to projectthrough the casing into the passage aforesaid to close the, same, andmeans operable by the coin in the pocket aforesaid for engaging the saidmember to project the finger into the said passage.

6. In a coin controlled. dispensing apparatus, a casing having a coinreceiving passage therein a rotatable member having a coin receivingpocket therein adapted to register with the passage aforesaid, a memberpivotally' mounted upon the casing having a projection positionedadjacent an aperture formed in said passage, and a dog having means. forlatchlng said rotatable member andfor moving the projection aforesaidthrough the aperture into the passage for closing'the same.

7. In a coin controlled dispensing apparatus, a casing having a coinreceiving passage therein, a rotatable member having a coin receivingpocket therein adapted to register with the passage aforesaid, a memberpivotally mounted upon the casing having a finger adapted to projectthrough an opening n the casing into the said passage, and a dogpivotally mounted upon the casing having a.

portion normally engageable with the rotat able member to latch the sameand having a another portion operable in. the unlatchedposition of thedog to engagethe member aforesaid and project the said finger throughmeans for latching said rotatable memberand having a portion arrangedadjacent to the said pocket for engagement with the coin in the latter,said dog being operable upon engaging the coin to move out of engagementwith the rotatable member andtto simulta neously engage said lever'andmove the projection thereof throu h the aperture aforesaid into the passage o'r closing the same.

' 9. In a multiple coin controlled dispensing apparatus having.a-dividedcoin receiving passage, the combination of a series, of comreceiving pockets communicating with one branch of said passage,meansoperative upon insertion ofa plurality of coins corresponding innumber to said pockets to distribute the coins successively into thepockets, and means operative by contact of the 'coin in the last pocketto close the aforesaid branch of the passage.

10. In a multiple coin controlled dispensing apparatus having a dividedcoin receiving passage, the combination of a series of coin r'eceivinpockets communicating with one branch 0% said passage, means operativeupon insertion of a plurality of coins corresponding in number to saidpockets to 'distribute the coins successively into the pockets, meansoperative by contact of the coin in the last pocket to close theaforesaid branch of the passage, and means for guiding and deflectingcoins of lesser diameter than the operative coins into another branch ofthe passage.

11. In a multiple coin controlled dispensing apparatus, the combinationof a casing having an opening, package-holding devices Within saidcasing, rotary members adapted to successively position saidpackage-holding devices at said opening, a series of coin receivingpassages, a rotatable member provided with a plurality of pocketsadapted to register with said passages, hand actuatedflevices forrotating said member, and means inengageable with said rotatable memberto maintain said pockets in accurate registration with said passages,said hand actuate-d devices being also eifective to actuate said rotarymembers...

12. In acoin controlled dispensing apparatus, the combination of arotatable'memberhaving a plurality of sets of coin receiving pockets, 9.coin receiving passage communieating with an opening in said casing atone ing apparatus, a series of coin receiving} end and having portionsregistrable with the pockets of each of said sets, said setssuccess'ively communicating with said portions of said passage onrotation of said member, locki'ngdevices normally preventing suchrotation, means operative by the coins themselves for rendering saidlocking devices inoperative, anddetent means for maintaining selectivesets of pockets in register with said portions of the coin passage.

' 13, In a multiple coin controlled dispensannular portion with aplurality of circumferentially spaced pockets therein of such a size asto hold a coin of the proper size and to permit an undersized coin topass toward the central portion of said member, means for registeringsaid pockets with-a branch of said passage whereby a coin may beintroduced into said pocket for operating said apparatus, andconnections between said central portion and another branch of saidpassage whereby an undersized coin may be returned to the owner thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JGSEPH J. SCI-IERMACK.

pockets, automatic operable means for distrlbuting the (301115 to therespectlve pockets, 'means for preventing coins from entering into saidpockets after a predetermined number. ofpockets have receivedla coin,and means for preventing thelast recited means frominterfering with theoperation of the apparatus. I

14,.In a coin controlled dispensing apparatus, a combination of a casinghaving a series of coin receiving passages therein, a

rotatable member having a series of pockets

